Artist - The Agony Scene
Album - The Darkest Red
Label - Roadrunner Records
Reviewer - Robin Steeley
There has been a lot of hype surrounding the Roadrunner release of The Agony Scene’s “The Darkest Red”. The band previously released a self-titled debut that paved the way for this full-length offering. Described somewhere as a “Christian metal band” The Agony Scene proves that it’s not about the labels, its truly about the music. The Darkest Red was recorded at Red Clay/Millbrook Studios in New York with producer Rob Caggiano.
The CD starts with the prelude, which is a spacy collage of sounds that run about a minute long before it blasts into the title track “The Darkest Red” which kicks in right away with some furious percussion and piercing vocals from Michael Williams. I have to say that one minute into this song I am banging my head in my chair, and it’s a relief after the last ten albums I just reviewed to come across something as tasty as this. The next track is just as good, titled “Scars Of Your Disease” it features more of those soul-treading breakdowns and some blistering vocal work. Instrumentally it’s hard pounding and full of a dynamic energy. This band has a certain raw and intense quality that makes them an impressive listen.
Other highlight tracks off the album were “Procession” with its catchier melodic chorus and this same method is repeated in “My Dark Desire”. I also really liked the raging “Scapegoat” and the final blistering track “Forever Abandoned” with its whispered mid song tempo and angry lyrics.
In the end, I would have to say that The Agony Scene has been well worth all the hype, having all the qualities of both good European as well as American metal, staying true to their own sound without replicating formulas, this band is as hardcore as they come.
The Agony Scene is:
Michael Williams - vocals
Chris Emmons - guitar
Brent Masters - drums
Steven Kaye - guitar
Brian Hodges - bass
Tracklisting
1. Prelude (Revised Gain)
2. Darkest Red
3. Scars of Your Disease
4. Screams Turn To Silence
5. Sacrifice
6. Prey
7. Procession
8. Suffer
9. My Dark Desire
10. Scape Goat
11. Forever Abandoned
